"Peng Mountain is not far from here; the tadpole diligently scouts ahead, croak, wondrous, wondrous! It suits my mood perfectly. Lord Liang is a great talent—Liang Qu is a great talent indeed!" The Old Toad grew happier the more he read, and more delighted the more he recited, waving his webbed claws. "Quick, quick, quick! Another one! Another one!"
"Frog Duke, writing poetry and lyrics is no easy task." Liang Qu kneaded his temples, looking mentally overtaxed and exhausted beyond endurance.
The Old Toad feigned incomprehension. "Then why not meet again two days later? Lord Liang should rest more and create more!"
"I can't rest, and I can't create. Without Treasure Fish to eat, I can't think of good poems!" Liang Qu laid his cards on the table, dropping all pretense.
"What does writing poetry have to do with Treasure Fish? Lord Liang is the Frog Clan's right-hand man—your conduct is far too worldly. How will you shine and burn for the Frog Clan? Besides, I risked my life and painstakingly accompanied you to this freezing place, where the dry cold has wrinkled my frog skin, yet you begrudge me even a few poems?" The Old Toad folded his arms, deeply dissatisfied. "I had planned to worry for a few more years before passing my position as Frog Clan Elder to you. Looking at things now, that absolutely will not do. You still need tempering!"
"I gave you one already." Liang Qu refused to swallow the empty promises and slapped the pages of the booklet, making them rustle. "Isn't this poem, 'Untitled'? Take it, Frog Duke. From now on, your name will go down in frog history. Writing poetry requires inspiration; inspiration taxes the brain; taxing the brain requires nourishment; and what better to nourish it than Treasure Fish brains?